David Warner was a notable absentee from Australia’s practice session in Hyderabad on Thursday, struggling again with a bout of gastro. Warner also suffered from gastro during Australia’s second innings of the first Test in Chennai and batted at No.3 instead of taking his regular opening spot.
The rest of the squad had its first training session in Hyderabad and were greeted by a pitch that bore a few small cracks and a hint of grass. There was no indication it would be the same kind of surface as they encountered in Chennai, although there was still likely to be plenty in it for the spinners.
“I’ve played quite a bit of one-day and Twenty20 cricket here and in those matches, it’s as close as you get to the Gabba around the world,” Shane Watson said before the team arrived at the ground and saw the surface. “It’s a beautiful wicket. There’s true pace and bounce in the wicket so I’m not sure if we’re going to get that exactly.
“There’s less chance of it being like the Gabba [for a Test match]. They obviously play very well in those conditions when the ball is turning. They’ve also got the make-up of the side to be able to make the most of those conditions as well. It would not surprise me if the wicket is a bit more conducive to spin bowling than fast bowling.”
Australia’s major selection decision over the next two days surrounds the make-up of the attack and whether they should include two spinners, or even replace Nathan Lyon with Xavier Doherty. There is also the possibility that Mitchell Johnson will be considered after the lack of wickets from Peter Siddle and Mitchell Starc in Chennai, with Starc the most likely to make way if Johnson is chosen.